The last Independence Air flight serving Palm Beach International Airport is scheduled to leave at 5:05 p.m. today, just hours before the low-fare airline stops operating. Bankrupt since early November, the carrier was a victim of high fuel costs and steep competition. "The financial pressures of the industry have prevailed," the company said on its Web site. "We have run out of time." Independence Air had sought a buyer, but did not receive any firm offers. The company operated a second flight from West Palm Beach on Wednesday to accommodate the large number of passengers seeking to get to Washington before service terminates.

The last Independence Air flight serving Palm Beach International Airport is scheduled to leave at 5:05 p.m. today, just hours before the low-fare airline stops operating. Bankrupt since early November, the carrier was a victim of high fuel costs and steep competition. "The financial pressures of the industry have prevailed," the company said on its Web site. "We have run out of time." Independence Air had sought a buyer, but did not receive any firm offers. The company operated a second flight from West Palm Beach on Wednesday to accommodate the large number of passengers seeking to get to Washington before service terminates.

When airlines announce new routes, it's a good time to purchase tickets. The carriers often entice travelers with low introductory fares or bonus miles and sometimes a combination of the two. US Airways is offering special fares on new nonstop service from Washington Reagan National to six cities. Roundtrip fares to/from Washington, D.C., include $252 Dallas, $102 Detroit, $148 Atlanta, $152 Cleveland, $158 Chicago and $264 Houston. Taxes and fees are additional. Tickets must be purchased with a seven- or 14-day advance.

United Airlines is slowly rolling out its latest weapon in its battle to fight off low-cost carriers and win over business travelers: new 70-seat regional jets. Unlike most small jets, these aircraft for short-haul flights of up to three hours on United Express have three seating sections -- first class, "economy plus" and coach. In first class, the Embraer 170 twin-engine planes also have extra legroom (38 inches) and meals (a cold sandwich). Coach passengers get a soft drink and a snack.

United Airlines is slowly rolling out its latest weapon in its battle to fight off low-cost carriers and win over business travelers: new 70-seat regional jets. Unlike most small jets, these aircraft for short-haul flights of up to three hours on United Express have three seating sections -- first class, "economy plus" and coach. In first class, the Embraer 170 twin-engine planes also have extra legroom (38 inches) and meals (a cold sandwich). Coach passengers get a soft drink and a snack.

Seven U.S. airlines are allowing frequent fliers to donate their miles so that troops injured in Iraq or Afghanistan can be visited by family members. Pam Lea-Maida, of the Fisher House Foundation, which manages Operation Hero Miles in coordination with the military and the airlines, says the program uses 2.5 million to 3 million frequent-flier miles a week to obtain tickets that reunite the injured and their families. She said the program is in particular need of America West miles. You can now get double the bang when donating American Airlines miles: The airline will match each mile you donate between now and Sept.

After battling the budget airlines on fares, the traditional carriers are now trying to match their rivals' in-flight entertainment offerings. Low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways has raised the expectations of airline passengers with its 36-channel satellite TV programming at each seat. Other budget carriers -- including Frontier Airlines and Delta Air Lines' Song unit-- have followed JetBlue with similar services. Now, American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, has begun a 12-week test of a new handheld entertainment system that plays movies, music videos, TV shows and video games on a 9-inch screen, and contains local or national newspapers.

Stay any Thursday-Sunday night at a Hilton Garden Inn by Sept. 30 and receive a complimentary round of golf for up to two people, valid at any of 280 golf courses throughout North America. Request plan code GA. Greens fee voucher is good for tee times after 10 a.m. Monday-Thursday and after 2 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Info: 877-782-9444, www.hiltongardeninn.com. The Turks & Caicos Club in Providenciales is offering free nights. Stay for three nights and the fourth is free; stay for five and nights six and seven are on the resort; and stay for 11 nights and get three nights gratis.

The romantically inclined are here in force for Valentine's Day, according to bookings at vacationspot.com, an online travel site that specializes in private homes and condos available for rent to vacationers. In its list of 10 top destinations for Valentine's, the service lists Miami at No. 3 and Fort Lauderdale at No. 7. "Bargain hunters will find some of the year's best deals during that seven-week period between New Year's Day and Presidents Day [in mid-February]," said Rick Fischer, vice president of vacation rental for the company.

With less than a month to go before Delta Air Lines Inc.'s low-cost subsidiary Song stops flying, company officials are trying to convert loyal passengers to the new Delta -- assuming it isn't grounded or put out of business by a pilots' strike. Company officials say it could take almost two years for all the renovations and repainting of Song's four dozen Boeing 757s to be completed once the discount airline officially goes the way of Delta Express, Air Florida, Independence Air, PeopleExpress and other extinct, cheap carriers.

Stay any Thursday-Sunday night at a Hilton Garden Inn by Sept. 30 and receive a complimentary round of golf for up to two people, valid at any of 280 golf courses throughout North America. Request plan code GA. Greens fee voucher is good for tee times after 10 a.m. Monday-Thursday and after 2 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Info: 877-782-9444, www.hiltongardeninn.com. The Turks & Caicos Club in Providenciales is offering free nights. Stay for three nights and the fourth is free; stay for five and nights six and seven are on the resort; and stay for 11 nights and get three nights gratis.

Seven U.S. airlines are allowing frequent fliers to donate their miles so that troops injured in Iraq or Afghanistan can be visited by family members. Pam Lea-Maida, of the Fisher House Foundation, which manages Operation Hero Miles in coordination with the military and the airlines, says the program uses 2.5 million to 3 million frequent-flier miles a week to obtain tickets that reunite the injured and their families. She said the program is in particular need of America West miles. You can now get double the bang when donating American Airlines miles: The airline will match each mile you donate between now and Sept.

When airlines announce new routes, it's a good time to purchase tickets. The carriers often entice travelers with low introductory fares or bonus miles and sometimes a combination of the two. US Airways is offering special fares on new nonstop service from Washington Reagan National to six cities. Roundtrip fares to/from Washington, D.C., include $252 Dallas, $102 Detroit, $148 Atlanta, $152 Cleveland, $158 Chicago and $264 Houston. Taxes and fees are additional. Tickets must be purchased with a seven- or 14-day advance.

After battling the budget airlines on fares, the traditional carriers are now trying to match their rivals' in-flight entertainment offerings. Low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways has raised the expectations of airline passengers with its 36-channel satellite TV programming at each seat. Other budget carriers -- including Frontier Airlines and Delta Air Lines' Song unit-- have followed JetBlue with similar services. Now, American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, has begun a 12-week test of a new handheld entertainment system that plays movies, music videos, TV shows and video games on a 9-inch screen, and contains local or national newspapers.

If I were a bettin' man, I'd put some money on a big airline filing for bankruptcy protection in the not-too-distant future. My oddsmaker is Robert Herbst, who publishes the Web site AirlineFinancials.com. "Based on my analysis," he told me, "US Airways and United Airlines look to have the greatest challenges over the next year." Enough of a challenge to push them off the Chapter 11 cliff? Perhaps. Point is, one day - maybe soon - you could be flying the bankrupt skies. How will that affect your trip?

Blink these days and you could miss a fare to remember. With travel-booking technology constantly shifting and airlines posting ever-changing fares to trump the competition, you have to move fast. Here's a primer on how to snare a decent airfare: 1. Go to an all-purpose travel site. The Big Three (www.orbitz.com, www.expedia.com and www.travelocity.com) still command the lion's share of attention, inasmuch you can book your flight/hotel/car in one spot. While all have exclusive Web deals not available elsewhere, some airlines aren't represented on the sites, fares can vary wildly, and the sites charge a $5 or $6 booking fee -- so consider the trio a starting point, not the finish line.